Automatically-controlled fluid-pumping system



March 19, 1929. L, A, WGNERE 1,705,192

AUTOKKTICALLY CONTROLLED FLUID PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 23, 1928 Swami Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED" STATES LEONARD avmivnnn, or ennnnwoon, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATICALLY-CONTROLLED FLUID-PUMPING SYSTEM.

Application filed January 23, 1928. Serial No. 248,850.

This invention relates to automatically controlled fluid pumping systems, and more particularly to a system including a storage tank for water or gaseous fluidv having means responsive to pressure therein for making and breaking the ignition circuit. of an internal combustion engine when predetermined minimum and maximum pressures are obtained in said tank; a pump driven by said internal combustion engine; an additional pressure responsive means operating a valve to establish communication between said storage tank and a turbo-motor which is driven by the pressure of air Within the tank, and means for transmitting power from said turbo-motor to the flywheel of said internal combustion engine whereby when the ignitioncircuit of said engine is closed by a decrease of pressure within the storage tank a starting impulse is transmitted to said engine by simultaneous operation of said turbomotor and the said pump is driven to replenish the water stored in the tank until such time as the pressure of air therein is raised to a maximum, whereupon the ignition circuit of the internal combustion engine is broken and the second-named pressure responsive means is actuated to cut off communication between the tank and turbomotor; all as will be hereinafter morespecifically described, and as claimed. 7

- One of the principal, objects of my inven-. tion is to provide a system for pumping water by the use of an internal combustion engine and to automatically control the operation of such engine,'thereby obviating the necessity for hand starting. I "Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the fo drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the pumping system comprising my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the pressure responsive means for controlling operation of the turbo-motor-starter.

Referring more particularly to the drawm I I The storage tank 10 has an outlet 11 for conveying water to a point of use, and an inlet pipe 12 through which water is forced into the tank from the discharge side of a drivenpump 13, supplied with water through pipe 14 from a source not shownl A pressure operated electric switch 15 of conventional construction is mounted in comllowing description and munication with the upper part of thetank and is adapted to close the ignition circuit 16 (shown diagrammatically) of an internal combustion enginel? when there is a predetermined minimum pressure of air entrapped in the upper part of the tank, and to open such circuit when the tank has been filled to a maximum level, determined by the pressure of the entrapped air.

. Pipe 18, communicating with the upper portion of the storagev tank, has a" branch pipe 19 which, in turn, has a branch 20 0011- nected to thepressure operated valve 21 for regulating the operation of a turbo-motor compressor 22. The pressure operated valve 21 is shown most clearly in Figure 2 of the drawing, and it comprises a chamber 23 into which the branch pipe 20 extends. A. flexible diaphragm 24 forms one of the walls of the chamber and a cylindrical casing 25 which overlies the diaphragm is closed at its upper end by. a screw, threaded cap. 26

through which extends an adjusting screw 27, bearlng upon a colled spring-28 to vary the compression thereof against the head of pipe 20 andthe pipe 31 are threaded.

As is shown in the drawing, pipe 31 connects with the inlet of the turbo-motor-compressor, and the passage of compressed air to such turbine is regulated by a needle valvev (not shown) controlled by hand wheel '32. The turbo-1notor carries a pump compressor V33whic'h is operated by rotation of the tura ported piston 29, thereby resiliently forcbine, rotor, such pump having an intake and exhaust valve 3 1 and'35, respectively. 'When the system is designed to operate by'c'ompressed air the exhaust side of pump 33 is connected to branch pipe 19 for a purpose to be later described, while the inlet of thepump is open to the atmosphere. I Power generated bythe turbine 22 is transmitted to the flywheel of the internal combustion engine by gearing, chain or belt, and the 7 internal combustion engine, in similar suitablemanner, drives the water pump 13.

- In the operation of this system, assuming that the pressure operated switch is adjusted toopen the ignition circuit when there is a maximum pressure 0t 60 pounds within the storage tank and to close the circuit when the pressure drops to 35 pounds, water is withdrawn from the tank for use and the pressure 01' entrapped air above the surface of the water consequently drops until the redetermined minimum pressure is reached.

witch 15 then operates automatically to close the ignition circuit and, siiznultaneously, the spring in valve 21, which has been similarly adjusted for operation at the same maximum and minimum pressures as the switch, collapses diaphragm 24 and forces the valve piston downwardly so that a passage is opened between the tank and the turbo-motor by Way of pipes 18, 19, 20 and 31. The pres sure of air from the storage tank, thus, propels the turbo-motor which, in turn, spins the flywheel of the internal combustion engine thereby charging the cylinders of the engine with explosive gas which thereupon ignites. In this manner the water pump 13 is driven to re-fill the storage tank, and atthe same time the air compressor 33 on the turbine forces air through pipes 19 and 18 into the storage tank to assist in building up the required pressure therein and stop operation 01' the system when the maximum level of Water has been reached. The pressure of air in the tank now being at the predetermined poundage, operates the electrical cut-out switch and opens the ignition circuit, thereby stopping the internal combustion engine and, consequently, the pumping of water until the supply is again depleted.

If it is so desired the system may be controlled by vacuum or negative pressure instead of by positive, pneumatic pressure as above described. In such case, however, connection of the pipe 19 would be made with the intake 34 of the compressor rather than with its exhaust as is shown and previously described, and the exhaust would be vented to the atmosphere.

Also, instead of pumping water and similar liquids the system may be used for the storage of gaseous fluids.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A system for storing liquid comprising in combination a storage tank, a fluid operated turbine, an internal combustion engine connected therewith, a pump driven by said engine, means responsive to pressure of fluids compressed above the level of liquids within said tank for opening and closing the ignition circuit of said internal combustion engine, and means also responsive to variations in pressure of the fluid entrapped within said tank for establishing and cutting off communication between said turbine and tank whereby, when communication is established, fluid from the tank will flow to the turbine thereby operating it to start the internal turbine, an internal combustion engine connected therewith, a pump driven by said engine, means responsive to pressure o'l' a1r entrapped withinsaid tank for opening and closing the ignition circuit of said internal combustion engine, and a valve opened by a decrease of air pressure within said tank and closed by an increase of pressure therein to establish communication between said tank and turbine, whereby when communicatlon is so established air under pressure from said tank ope ates the turbine to start the internal combustion engine and pump, thereby to replenish the supply of water in the 8O storage tank.

3. A system of water supply comprising in combination a closed storage tank, an air operated turbine, an internal combustion engine, a pump driven thereby, a fluid pressure actuated switch in communication with the interior of said tank for closing the ignition circuit of said internal combustion engine when the water in the tank has risen to a 7 maximum level and the entrapped air above it is under predetermined pressure, a pipe connecting the upper part of said tank and said turbine, and a pressure operated valve in said pipe, adapted to close under maximum pressure of the air in said tank and to open upon a decrease in pressure due to depletion of the supply of water stored, whereby, when said valve is open, air under pressure from the tank will drive the turbine to start the sponsivevalve, normally open to establish communication between said tank and turbine, but closed by the increase of air pressure in the tank when filled with water to a predetermined level, whereby when the level of water falls the said valve will be automatically operated to permit air under pressure from the tank to operate the turbine, thus starting the internal combustion engine and operating the water pump.

5. A system of water supply comprising in combination a closed storage tank, a fluid operated turbine, an internal combustion engine connected thereto, a pump driven by said engine, a switch operated by the pressure of air entrapped in the tank for closing the ignition circuit of said internal combustion engine when the pressure in said tank is decreased and for opening said circuit upon an increase of pressure of predetermined amount, a pipe extending from said tank to a chamber having a flexible diaphragm forming a Wall thereof, a ported piston, a spring for pressing said piston against said diaphragm", a casing in which said piston re ciprocates, said casing having ports registering with those in the piston When it is in the position it assumes upon collapseof the diaphragm, and pipes extending from the ports in the casing to the tank and turbine, respectively, whereby, when the air pressure in the tank is decreased, the spring Will press said valve piston to establish communication between the tank and turbine, operating the turbine byair underpressure from the tank and starting the internal combustion engine to resume operation of the Water pump and replenish the depleted supply of stored Water.

6. A system of Water supply comprising in combination a closed storage tank, a fluid operated turbine, an internal combustion engine, a Water pump driven thereby, means responsive to air pressure Within said tank for opening and closing the ignition circuit of said internal combustion engine, and means for starting the turbine, said lastnamed means comprising a pressure responsive valve controlled by air pressure Within said tank to establish communication between the'tank and turbine upon a decrease in tank pressure, and thereby drive the turbine by air contained Within the tank to start the internal combustion engine and Water pump, and a 'compressorcarried by said turbine and operated thereby for compressing air and forcing it into the tank to assist in raising the pressure therein. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEONARD A. VIGNERE. 

